JP2009045193A - Capsule endoscope and miniaturized medical device for organ diagnosis - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely diagnose hemorrhage inside an organ. <P>SOLUTION: The capsule endoscope 10 comprises a lens 14 and an image pickup device 16. The capsule endoscope 10 also has a transparent casing 11A forming a body fluid extraction space 11 through which the body fluid flows in/out via an inflow/outflow port 19 on the inner side of a photography window 12A in such a range as can be photographed by the lens 14 and the image pickup device 16. A background plate 15, which does not transmit the light from outside but reflects the light permeating the body fluid inside the body fluid extraction space 11, is disposed in a part of the colorless and transparent dome-shaped photography window 12A facing the casing 11A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capsule endoscope or a small medical device for organ diagnosis including a capsule endoscope, and more particularly to color observation of a body fluid secreted into a digestive tract or the like.

  The capsule endoscope includes a light source unit and an imaging system, and is sent to the digestive organs by swallowing. While proceeding according to peristaltic movement, the imaging system captures images inside the organ, such as the inner wall of the small intestine, and transmits a video signal to a receiver outside the body. An image signal is transmitted from the capsule endoscope at a predetermined frame rate, and a receiver outside the body receives observation image data for a long time. Then, image data is taken into a personal computer or the like, and a doctor or the like diagnoses a lesioned part through a series of observation images.

When bleeding occurs for pathological reasons such as ulcers and cancer, the color of fluids secreted inside the organ is reddish. Capsule endoscopes can detect not only lesions such as polyps but also bleeding on the inner wall of the organ. For example, colorimetric analysis is performed on the observed body fluid. Here, the color of the detected body fluid is compared with a reference color representing the color at the time of lesion to diagnose whether there is an abnormality such as bleeding (see Patent Document 1).
JP-T-2004-521893

  The inner wall of the organ is usually reddish, and colorless and transparent body fluids are observed through the reddish background color. For this reason, it is difficult to identify whether the body fluid is reddish due to bleeding or whether it is reddish due to the inner wall of the background organ in the image in which the body fluid is projected.

  The capsule endoscope of the present invention includes a capsule container, and a body fluid extraction space portion that is provided inside the capsule container and forms a space (referred to as a body fluid extraction space) through which body fluid outside the capsule container can flow in and out. A light source that is provided inside the capsule-like container and emits light toward the body fluid in the body fluid extraction space, and a photosensor that is provided inside the capsule-like container and can detect the color of the body fluid by the light from the body fluid extraction space With.

  The present invention is characterized in that light reflected and irradiated on the inner wall of the organ passes through the body fluid extraction space and does not enter the photosensor. With such a configuration, the photosensor images a body fluid without using the inner wall of the organ as a background, and the obtained image data includes color information of the body fluid itself. In order to extract body fluid using peristaltic motion, it is preferable that the body fluid extraction space portion has a body fluid inflow / outlet formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the capsule container. In addition, when the body fluid extraction space portion cannot be visually recognized, it is preferable that the body fluid extraction space portion forms a medicine solution tank for making the body fluid visible and a body fluid path that connects the body fluid extraction space and the solution tank.

  Since the capsule endoscope is required to be downsized and simplified, it is preferable to observe a body fluid using an observation light source and a photosensor. Therefore, the light source and the photosensor are respectively configured as a light source for organ inner wall illumination and an imaging element for imaging, and accordingly, a body fluid extraction space is formed inside the transparent imaging window of the capsule container. The body fluid extraction space section has a light reflection plate (referred to as a body fluid transmission light reflection plate) attached to a region facing the body fluid extraction space of the photographing window. The bodily fluid transmitted light reflecting plate reflects light transmitted through the bodily fluid extraction space and blocks reflected light from the inner wall of the organ. A part of the observation image obtained by the imaging device includes a body fluid image in the body fluid extraction space that does not have the inner wall of the organ as a background.

  During observation, light that is reflected or confused by the body fluid enters the image sensor, and light that passes through the body fluid and is reflected by the body fluid transmitted light reflector enters the image sensor. When judging bleeding by data analysis, it is desirable to adjust the ratio of the light reflected and confused by the body fluid and the light transmitted through the body fluid so that the bleeding can be judged most easily. The ratio between the body fluid transmitted light and the body fluid reflected (confused) light varies depending on the color of the body fluid and the difference in the organ to be observed. For this reason, the organ light reflector is preferably configured to have a predetermined reflectance according to the bleeding diagnosis.

  Depending on the concentration of the body fluid, bubbles in the body fluid, and the like, the blood component in the body fluid may be easily or difficult to see depending on the thickness of the body fluid. Therefore, it is desirable that the cross-sectional shape of the bodily fluid extraction space is configured to be tapered so that the optical path length of the bodily fluid extraction space changes.

  On the other hand, it is also possible to observe body fluid using a dedicated light source and photo sensor, and in order to block the reflected light from the inner wall of the organ, a body fluid extraction space is formed along the side of the capsule container that blocks the light. The photosensor and the light source are provided separately from the illumination light source and the imaging element, respectively.

  When a dedicated light source and a photosensor are used, in order to detect body fluid reflected light and body fluid transmitted light separately, a first photo sensor that receives light reflected by the body fluid and a second photo sensor that receives light transmitted through the body fluid. It is desirable to provide a sensor. A photodiode or the like may be used as the photosensor. The first photosensor and the light source face the second photosensor across the bodily fluid extraction space, and the bodily fluid extraction space is formed on the wall surface forming the bodily fluid extraction space. And a transparent plate facing each other.

  A small medical device for organ diagnosis which is another aspect of the present invention includes a body fluid extraction space section and a body fluid which are provided inside the container and form a body fluid extraction space through which body fluid outside the capsule container can flow in and out. A light source that emits light toward the body fluid in the extraction space, and a photosensor that is provided inside the container and that can detect the color of the body fluid by the light from the body fluid extraction space, are irradiated and reflected on the inner wall of the organ The light is configured not to enter the photosensor through the body fluid extraction space.

  According to the present invention, bleeding in an organ can be reliably diagnosed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal configuration of a capsule endoscope according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an observation image.

  The capsule endoscope 10 includes a capsule-shaped container 12 serving as an outer shell, and a part thereof includes a hemispherical (dome-shaped) transparent imaging window 12A. Inside the container 12 are housed a light source 13, a lens 14, an imaging device 16, and circuit boards 18A and 18B each composed of a plurality of LEDs. The container 12 seals the interior space of the container, and the container body 12B other than the imaging window 12A does not transmit light. The photographing window 12A is fixed to the container body 12B.

  The lens 14 is disposed with the longitudinal direction (axial direction) E of the container 12 as an optical axis, and an imaging element 16 is provided behind the lens 14 (hereinafter, the imaging window 14 side is the front and the opposite is the rear. Define). The lens 14 is fixed by an annular lens holding frame 17 extending in the forward direction from the circuit board 18A, and the imaging element 16 is installed on the circuit board 18A.

  When the capsule endoscope 10 advances in the digestive tract by swallowing, the white illumination light emitted from the light source 13 illuminates the forward direction through the imaging window 12A. Reflected light from the inner wall of the organ to be observed is incident on the lens 14 via the imaging window 12 </ b> A, whereby a subject image is formed on the image sensor 16. An image signal generated by the image sensor 16 is processed in the circuit board 18A to generate a video signal.

  The video signal is transmitted outside the body by wireless communication from a transmission unit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 18B. A receiver (not shown) installed outside the body receives the transmitted video signal and records it as data. The recorded data is subjected to video signal processing in a computer system. Thereby, the in-vivo image is displayed on the monitor. A power supply control unit (not shown) provided on the circuit board 18B controls power supply to the light sources 13A and 13B, the image sensor 16 and the like.

  In the vicinity of the container body 12B away from the apex of the photographing window 12A, an outflow inlet 19 is formed along a direction perpendicular to the axis E of the capsule-like container 12, and the outflow inlet 19 is provided inside the photographing window 12A. It communicates with a space (hereinafter referred to as a body fluid extraction space) 11. In accordance with the rotational movement of the capsule endoscope 10 by the peristaltic movement, the bodily fluid secreted into the organ flows into and out of the bodily fluid examination space 11 through the outflow inlet 19.

  The body fluid extraction space 11 is formed by a colorless and transparent casing 11A that transmits light. The rectangular parallelepiped casing 11A is in contact with the imaging window 12A, and a background plate 15 is formed in the portion of the imaging window 12A facing the casing 11A. The background plate 15 constitutes a part of the photographing window 12A and blocks light from the outside of the container 12. That is, it is configured such that light from the outside does not enter the body fluid extraction space 11 through the background plate 15. The inner surface 15A of the background plate 15 is painted in gray (gray).

  The place where the casing 11 </ b> A is disposed is in a photographing range (field of view) by the lens 14 and the image sensor 16, and the body fluid in the body fluid extraction space 11 is illuminated by the illumination light of the light sources 13 </ b> A and 13 </ b> B and flows into the body fluid extraction space 11. The light from the body fluid thus made enters the lens 14. As a result, the figure image is displayed on a part of the screen. In the observation image of FIG. 2, an image R of body fluid in the body fluid extraction space is displayed at the left corner of the screen.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the body fluid extraction space 11.

  Part of the light I1 emitted from the light source 13 is reflected and confused by the body fluid in the body fluid extraction space 11, and becomes reflected (confused) light and enters the lens 14 (hereinafter referred to as body fluid reflected light). On the other hand, when a part of the illumination light I2 passes through the body fluid, it is reflected by the background plate 15, and the reflected light enters the lens 14 (hereinafter referred to as body fluid transmitted light). The bodily fluid reflected light and the bodily fluid transmitted light are incident on the bodily fluid lens 14, that is, the image sensor 16, whereby an image of the bodily fluid and an image of light transmitted through the bodily fluid are obtained.

  The inner surface 15A of the background plate 15 is colored with gray having a predetermined reflectance, and the degree of reflection of the light reflected on the inner surface 15A, that is, the light transmitted through the body fluid, depends on the gray density. That is, the ratio between the bodily fluid reflected light and the bodily fluid transmission follows the reflectance of the inner surface 15A.

  The transmitted image signal includes body fluid image data based on light from the body fluid extraction space 11 together with captured image data, and a body fluid image based on body fluid transmitted light and body fluid reflected light is displayed by a computer system (not shown) or the like. . In the computer system, reference color data based on the gray scale of the inner surface 15A of the background plate 15 is prepared in advance, and the color of the observed body fluid image is compared with the reference color. Then, a diagnosis by a doctor or the like confirms whether blood is contained in the body fluid, that is, whether there is bleeding. It is also possible to determine bleeding from the image alone.

  Thus, according to the first embodiment, the casing 11A that forms the body fluid extraction space 11 through which body fluid flows in and out through the inflow / outflow port 19 is provided inside the photographing window 12A, and the casing of the photographing window 12A. A portion of the surface facing 11A is provided with a background plate 15 that does not transmit light from the outside and reflects light that has passed through body fluid in the body fluid extraction space 11. When the light from the light source 13 passes through the casing 11 </ b> A, the light reflected and confused by the body fluid enters the lens 14, and the light that has passed through the body fluid and reflected on the background plate 15 enters the lens 14. As a result, a body fluid image against the inner wall of the organ is not generated, the color of the body fluid itself is detected, and bleeding is reliably diagnosed.

    The color of the background plate 15 is not limited to gray, and may be set to white with a reflectance of 100%, black with a reflectance of 0%, or silver. The ratio between the body fluid transmitted light and the body fluid reflected light may be adjusted according to a gray scale so that bleeding can be easily confirmed. Moreover, you may comprise so that a gray scale may be changed in steps instead of a single color.

  The position of the casing 11 </ b> A may be an arbitrary position that allows the body fluid extraction space 11 to fall within a range where the lens 14 and the image sensor 16 can be photographed. At this time, it is configured such that the light reflected and reflected on the inner wall of the organ does not enter the photosensor through the body fluid extraction space. That is, the body shape image may be acquired so that the organ inner wall is not projected as a background. Further, a pump may be provided at the inflow / outflow port 12B to force the body fluid to flow in and out.

  Next, a capsule endoscope according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the shape of the body fluid extraction space is different from that of the first embodiment. The rest is the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal configuration in the vicinity of the photographing window of the capsule endoscope according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the housing 11 </ b> A ′ forming the body fluid extraction space 11 ′ is tapered. Therefore, the optical path length IR of the light that passes through the body fluid extraction space 11 ′ and is reflected by the background plate 15 varies along the radiation direction of the imaging window 12 </ b> A. By changing the optical path length, it is possible to reliably obtain an image with a predetermined optical path length that is easy to diagnose in a body fluid image, that is, blood components can be easily seen.

  Next, a capsule endoscope according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, a chemical solution is injected. About another structure, it is the same as 1st Embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic internal configuration of a capsule endoscope according to the third embodiment. A liquid medicine tank 17 is formed inside the imaging window 12A ″ of the capsule endoscope 10 ″, and communicates with the body fluid extraction space 11 ″ via the liquid medicine path 19A. The casing 17A of the solution tank 17 is a body fluid extraction space. 11 ″ casing 11A ″ is formed integrally.

  An indicator (such as a pH indicator) is stored in advance in the chemical tank 17. An on-off valve (not shown) provided in the chemical liquid passage 19 is opened by communication from the outside, whereby the chemical liquid flows into the bodily fluid extraction space 11 ″. The color of the bodily liquid changes by mixing with the chemical liquid, A colored body fluid image is obtained.

  Next, a capsule endoscope according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the fourth embodiment, a dedicated light source and a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode are prepared for observing the color of body fluid. Other configurations are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of a capsule endoscope according to the fourth embodiment. A body fluid inflow / outlet port 110 is formed on the side surface of the container body 110 of the capsule endoscope 100, and body fluid flows into and out of the body fluid extraction space 115 in accordance with the peristaltic motion. The body fluid extraction space 115 is formed by two transparent plates 150A and 150B along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the capsule endoscope 100.

  The light source 120 and the photoelectric conversion elements 130 and 140 are a dedicated light source and a dedicated photoelectric conversion element provided for body fluid observation, and are disposed around the body fluid extraction space 115. The photoelectric conversion element 140 is in contact with the transparent plate 150B, and is disposed on the opposite side of the light sources 120 and 130 in contact with the transparent plate 150A with the body fluid extraction space 115 interposed therebetween. The photoelectric conversion element 130 receives light emitted from the light source 120 and reflected and confused by the body fluid, while the photoelectric conversion element 140 receives light emitted from the light source 120 and transmitted through the body fluid. Image signals generated by the photoelectric conversion element 130 and the photoelectric conversion element 140 are processed as data for body fluid observation.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing data transmitted from the capsule endoscope 100 in time series. Each time image data for one frame is transmitted, transmitted light data and reflected light data are transmitted together. As a result, the color and intensity of the transmitted light and the color and intensity of the reflected light are generated separately, and automatic analysis of blood components is further facilitated.

  Next, a capsule endoscope as the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fifth embodiment, a bodily fluid inflow port and an outflow port are provided separately. About another structure, it is substantially the same as 4th Embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic internal configuration of a capsule endoscope according to the fifth embodiment. A body fluid inlet 110A 'and an outlet 110B' are formed on the side surface of the container body 110 of the capsule endoscope 100 'to form a tubular body fluid extraction space 115'. While the capsule endoscope 100 ′ advances by a peristaltic motion, a part of the body fluid passes through the body fluid extraction space 115 ′.

  The light source 120 ′ and the image sensor 130 ′ are arranged in spaces 170 and 180 sandwiched between the inlet 110A ′ and the outlet 110B ′ inside the container 120 ′, respectively, and the photoelectric conversion element 140 ′ is a body fluid test space 115 ′. Is disposed so as to face the light source 120 ′ and the photoelectric conversion element 130 ′. On the boundary surface forming the body fluid test space 115 ′, transparent plates 160 </ b> A, 170 </ b> A, and 180 </ b> A are integrally attached at positions facing the light source 120 ′, the photoelectric conversion element 130 ′, and the photoelectric conversion element 140 ′. When the illumination light from the light source 120 ′ irradiates the body fluid extraction space 115 ′, the photoelectric conversion element 130 ′ receives the body fluid reflected light, and the photoelectric conversion element 140 ′ receives body fluid transmitted light that passes through the body fluid.

  Instead of screening for bleeding with a capsule endoscope, it may be configured as a capsule-type small medical device dedicated to bleeding diagnosis, or may be configured as a small medical device for internal organ diagnosis other than the swallowing type.

It is sectional drawing which showed schematic internal structure of the capsule endoscope which is 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the observation image. It is the figure which expanded and showed the bodily fluid extraction space. It is sectional drawing which showed roughly the internal structure of the imaging | photography window vicinity of the capsule type endoscope in 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which showed schematic internal structure of the capsule type endoscope in 3rd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed schematic internal structure of the capsule type endoscope which is 4th Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data transmitted from a capsule type endoscope in time series. It is sectional drawing which showed the schematic internal structure of the capsule type endoscope which is 5th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Capsule-type endoscope 11, 115, 115 ′ Body extraction space 11A Casing (body fluid extraction space)
12 Container 12A Shooting Window 12B Container Body 13A, 13B Light Source 14 Lens 15 Background Plate (Body Fluid Transmitted Light Reflector)
16 Image sensor (photo sensor)
130 Image sensor (first photosensor)
140 Image sensor (second photo sensor)

Claims (9)

A capsule container;
A body fluid extraction space provided inside the capsule container and forming a body fluid extraction space into which body fluid outside the capsule container can flow in and out;
A light source that is provided inside the capsule-like container and emits light toward the body fluid in the body fluid extraction space;
A photosensor provided inside the capsule-shaped container and capable of detecting the color of the body fluid by the light from the body fluid extraction space;
A capsule endoscope configured such that light irradiated and reflected on an inner wall of an organ does not pass through the body fluid extraction space and enter the photosensor. The light source and the photosensor are a light source for organ inner wall illumination and an imaging device for image capturing, respectively.
The body fluid extraction space is formed inside a transparent photographing window of the capsule container,
The bodily fluid extraction space is attached to a region of the imaging window facing the bodily fluid extraction space, and reflects bodily fluid transmitted light that reflects light that passes through the bodily fluid extraction space and blocks reflected light from the inner wall of the organ. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a plate.   The capsule endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the body fluid transmitted light reflecting plate has a predetermined reflectance according to a bleeding diagnosis.   2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the body fluid extraction space is configured in a tapered shape so that an optical path length of the body fluid extraction space changes. The body fluid extraction space is formed along a side surface that blocks light of the capsule container,
The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the photosensor and the light source are provided separately from an illumination light source and a photographing image sensor, respectively. The photosensor includes a first photosensor that receives light reflected by bodily fluid and a second photosensor that receives light that passes through bodily fluid;
The first photosensor and the light source face the second photosensor across the body fluid extraction space;
The capsule body according to claim 5, wherein the body fluid extraction space includes a transparent plate facing the first and second photosensors and the light source on a wall surface forming the body fluid extraction space. Endoscope.   The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the body fluid extraction space has a body fluid inflow / outlet formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the capsule container.   2. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the body fluid extraction space portion forms a medicine solution tank and a medicine solution path that connects the body fluid extraction space and the medicine solution tank. A container,
A body fluid extraction space portion that is provided inside the container and forms a body fluid extraction space through which body fluid outside the capsule container can flow in and out;
A light source that emits light toward the body fluid in the body fluid extraction space;
A photosensor provided inside the container and capable of detecting the color of body fluid by light from the body fluid extraction space;
A small medical device for organ diagnosis, characterized in that light reflected and irradiated on the inner wall of the organ passes through the body fluid extraction space and does not enter the photosensor.

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